Lifting device for tire-rim assemblies

Abstract

A lifting device for handling earth moving vehicle tire rim assemblies, which may weigh several thousand pounds, requiring machinery for lifting and maneuvering such assemblies for removal from an earth moving vehicle and replacement onto such a vehicle. The assembly can be suspended from the end of a lifting crane to lift and properly maneuver the weight involved and provides a standard which can be attached to the rim assembly exteriorly of the tire thereon and is so shaped and proportioned for proper maneuvering of the assembly relative to an earth moving vehicle for removal and attachment of the assembly to the vehicle.

I claim: 
     
       1. A lifting device for heavy, large tire-rim assemblies having a rim with an exposed outer ring flange curved in radial section and open toward the assembly center, comprising: an upright rigid standard having a pair of rigid portions one telescoping into the other for extending the length of the standard,   a rim engaging bracket outstanding from one standard portion and having a portion shaped complementary to the rim flange interior shape for seating in and engaging the flange on the rim,   another rim engaging bracket outstanding from the other standard portion and having a portion shaped complementary to the rim flange interior shape for seating in and engaging the flange on the rim at a diametrically opposite position across the rim from said first bracket, said shaped bracket portions locking the standard to the wheel rim when so seated in said rim flange,   means for locking said standard portions in extended position with said brackets seated in and engaging the rim and the standard upright beside the tire-rim assembly,   a beam secured to and outstanding from the upper end of the standard extending in the same direction therefrom as said brackets extend, and   a lifting attachment on the beam spaced from said standard whereby a tire and rim assembly may be suspended on said device in an upright position for removal from and replacement upon a vehicle wheel.   
     
     
       2. A lifting device as specified in claim 1 wherein said beam has a part rigidly secured to said standard and a beam portion telescoped with said part with said lifting attachment secured to said beam portion for adjusting the lifting point to a position over the center of gravity of the combined tire-rim assembly and lifting device. 
     
     
       3. A lifting device as specified in claim 2 including a lifting attachment at the upper end of said standard for machine maneuvering the lifting device during attachment to a tire-rim assembly. 
     
     
       4. A lifting device as specified in claim 1 wherein the beam and upper standard portion are rigidly secured together at approximately right angles to each other and one of the rim engaging brackets is rigidly secured to the upper standard portion for directly bearing most of the weight of a tire-rim assembly during lifting. 
     
     
       5. A lifting device as specified in claim 1 wherein the standard comprises two rigid bars, an outer bar having its interior complementarily shaped to slidingly receive an inner bar and lock bolts are mounted on the outer bar to engage the inner bar to frictionally lock the bars in adjusted telescoped relation, the outer bar being uppermost so that the rim engaging bracket thereon may support the majority of the tire-rim assembly weight while the lower rim engaging bracket maintains the device attached to the assembly. 
     
     
       6. A lifting device as specified in claim 1 wherein each rim engaging bracket shaped portion seated in said rim ring flange locks the standard against movement both toward and away from the rim and a pushing jack is mounted on the standard between said brackets for forcing lateral movement of the tire-rim assembly relative to a vehicle wheel by forces applied to said standard and said rim flange. 
     
     
       7. A lifting device for an earth moving vehicle tire-rim assembly, wherein the rim has an outer inwardly directed ring flange, comprising: an upright standard having an outstanding rim engaging bracket shaped to hook into the interior of a vehicle rim ring flange,   a beam cantilevered relative to the upper end of the standard, rigidly secured to the standard and extending from the standard over said bracket to a position beyond the rim-engaging portion of the bracket,   adjustable securing means on the lower end of the standard for securing the standard to said tire rim assembly rim ring flange at a position interior thereof diametric to said bracket, said means and bracket locking the standard to the assembly when adjusted to be so hooked and secured, and a lifting attachment on the beam at a position generally over the tire-rim assembly and lifting device combined center of gravity for upright lifting and maneuvering of the tire-rim assembly whereby a tire and rim assembly may be suspended on said device in an upright position for removal from and replacement upon a vehicle wheel.   
     
     
       8. A lifting device as specified in claim 7 wherein jack means are mounted upon said standard below said bracket for forcing lateral movement of said standard and a tire-rim assembly relative to a vehicle through forces applied to said rim ring flange and to said standard by said jack means.